SYNOPSIS OF INFORMATION FROM CENSUS BLOCKS AND COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TONOPAH, NEVADA

Transcription

1 TECHNICAL REPORT UCED SYNOPSIS OF INFORMATION FROM CENSUS BLOCKS AND COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TONOPAH, NEVADA UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO i

2 Synopsis of Information from Census Blocks and Community Questionnaire for Tonopah, Nevada by Thomas R. Harris Shawn W. Stoddard and Robert W. Hammond Thomas R. Harris is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Director of the University Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. Shawn W. Stoddard is a Research Associate in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno. Robert W. Hammond is Extension Educator, Nye and Esmeralda County Cooperative Extension, Pahrump, Nevada. January 1994 UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex age creed national origin veteran status physical or mental disability and in accordance with university policy sexual orientation in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. ii

3 This publication, Synopsis of Information from Census Blocks and Community Questionnaire for Tonopah, Nevada was published by the University of Nevada Economic Development Center. Funds for the publication were provided by the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under University Centers Program contract # Also research assistance for this project was provided by the Nye and Esmeralda County Chambers of Commerce. This publication's statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and/or data represent solely the findings and views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the United States Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Administration, the Nye and Esmeralda County Chambers of Commerce, University of Nevada, or any reference sources used or quoted by this study. Reference to research projects, programs, books, magazines, or newspaper articles does not imply an endorsement or recommendation by the authors unless otherwise stated. Correspondence regarding this document should be sent to: Thomas R. Harris, Director University Center for Economic Development University of Nevada, Reno Department of Agricultural Economics Mail Stop 204 Reno, Nevada UCED University of Nevada, Reno Nevada Cooperative Extension Department of Agricultural Economics iii

4 SYNPOSIS OF INFORMATION FROM CENSUS BLOCKS AND COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TONOPAH, NEVADA Introduction The primary objective of this report is to provide information about income and employment characteristics for the Nye County community of Tonopah. Tonopah is the county seat of Nye County and has been impacted by the activities of the mineral industry and the Test Site. Specific objectives of this report are: 1. Provide analysis from Census block data for the community of Tonopah, 2. Report results of a citizen questionnaire in Tonopah, and 3. Provide an overview of income and employment in Tonopah. No recommendations will be made in this report. Census Information Figure 1 shows Nye County Tonopah Region and the Census tract blocks in this region. The Tonopah Region is designated as 9802 and the tracts that closely coincide with the boundaries of the Tonopah community are census tracts throught Figures 2 through 3 and Table 1 show the median household income and per capita income for the Tonopah Region and the tract blocks. Median household income divides the income distribution into two equal parts, one having household income above the median value and the other having household incomes below the median value. Household income includes income of the householder and all other persons 15 years and older in the household whether related to the householder or not. Per capita income is the average income computed for every 1

5 man, woman and child in a particular grouping. Per capita income is derived by dividing total income of a particular group by the total population in that group. Care should be exercised in using and interpreting per capita income values for small subgroups of population. Per capita income values are susceptible to the effects of sampling variability, misreporting and processing errors. Median household income values, which are not affected by extreme values are, therefore, a better measure than per capita values when the population is small. Figure 2 shows that median household income for the Tonopah census tract blocks range from $6,991 in census tract block to $102,264 in census tract block Figure 3 shows the distribution of household incomes by census tract blocks. Census tract block has all reporting households in the greater than $100,000 category while census tract block has all reporting households in the less than $10,000 category. For those census tract blocks covering the Tonopah community, (census tract blocks through census tract block 98029), household income seems to be grouped between the household income levels of $20,000 to $50,000. From Table 1, the median household income for the Tonopah Region is $31,011 which is approximately 19 percent higher than the state value. Also the per capita income for the Tonopah Region is higher than the state. Table 1 shows the wide dispersion of median household income and per capita income for the different census tract blocks in the Tonopah Region. For census tract blocks through 98029, the census tract blocks that closely correspond to the community of Tonopah, median household income ranges from $16,181 to $38,594. Per capita income also shows similar range of values among the census tract blocks in the Tonopah Region. Table 2 shows the distribution of households by census block tracts in the Tonopah Region. From Table 2, the census block tracts that closely outline the community of Tonopah has approximately 95 percent of total Tonopah Region households. Also from Table 2, approximately 59 percent of households in the Tonopah Region are in census tract blocks and These two census tract blocks have median household income which are higher than 2

6 the state of Nevada. Also per capita income values for these two census tracts are approximately equal to the per capita income value for the state of Nevada. Citizen Questionnaire During the Summer and Fall of 1993, a citizen questionnaire of Tonopah households was completed. There were 966 completed household questionnaires or approximately 63 percent of total reported households in the Tonopah Region. From Table 3, the distribution of household income form the Census and the Citizen questionnaire were quite similar. Median household income from the citizen questionnaire for Tonopah in 1992 was $36,500 while the Census median household income value was $37,077 for Adjusting for inflation by using GNP price deflator (1987 = 100), real median household income for 1989 was estimated to be $35,685 which decreased in real terms in 1992 to a real median household income value of $30,417. This decrease in real median income can reflect different survey procedures used by the Census and the town questionnaire but also shows the impact of reduced Test Site and mining activities from 1989 to From Table 4, the test site had approximately 17 percent of total first and second wage earners. Given the changes in operations at the Test Site and potential decrease in Test Site activities, the influence on median family income from the loss of Test Site employment could be significant. However, when the first and second wage earner incomes form the Test Site were eliminated from the data, household median family income from 1992 decreased from $36,500 to $36,000. This decrease does not take into consideration the probable indirect and induced effects that would lower overall economic activity in Tonopah if the Test Site closed. Investigation of these impacts would require interindustry analyses which is beyond the scope of this study. 3

7 Table 1. Median Household Income and Per Capita Income for Tonopah Region by Census Tract Blocks. Percent of State Median Median Census Household Per Capita Household Per Capita Tract Income Income Income Income $102,264 $112, % % ,991 5, ,750 14, ,594 22, ,181 8, ,208 15, ,029 15, ,500 12, ,232 17, $37,077 $15, % % State of Nevada $31,011 $15,241 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Tract Data Base: State of Nevada,

8 Table 2. Distribution of Households by Census Block Tracts for the Tonopah Region. Proportional Share Census Number of of Total Region Tract Households Households Blocks (number) (percentage) Tonopah Region 1, Source: U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Tract Data Base: State of Nevada,

9 Table 3. Distribution of Household Income from Tonopah Citizen Questionnaire. Household Income Citizen Questionnaire Census Categories Distribution Distribution % % Less than $10, $10,000 to $20, $20,000 to $30, $30,000 to $40, $40,000 to $50, $50,000 to $60, $60,000 to $100, Greater than $100, Median Household Income $36,500 $37,077 Source: Tonopah Citizen Questionnaire,

10 Table 5 shows the distribution of educational attainment by first and second wage earners and corresponding median income value by educational attainment level. From questionnaire results approximately 86% of total first and second wage earners in Tonopah have educational attainment levels between high school graduate and college graduate. This reveals a highly educated workforce that lives in Tonopah. Also, median family income rises as educational attainment increased with the exception between "Some College Education" and "College Graduate". The highest median family income value is for wage earners with some graduate college education. This high median income level for employees with graduate college education would reflect employment by mining industries and the Test Site. Comparison Between Census and Citizen Questionnaire Even though the surveys of Tonopah were taken at different time periods, the results by the Census when compared to the citizen questionnaire were quite similar. The median household income level for Tonopah is approximately $36,500 which is higher than the state of Nevada. However, the high median income level for Tonopah may be difficult to maintain. Given recent closures of some mining industries and the scaling back or possible elimination of Test Site activities, the ability of Tonopah to maintain this level of median income is very unlikely. Beyond the scope of this study is the potential indirect and induced business impacts of the mining and Test Site activities in Tonopah and how reduction or elimination of these activities would impact the level of community economic activity. 7

11 Table 4. Distribution of First and Second Wage Earners by Economic Sector Sector Percentage Distribution (%) Agriculture 0.41 Mining 5.97 Construction 2.47 Manufacturing 1.03 Transportation 2.06 Communication 1.85 Public Utilities 3.09 Wholesale Trade 0.82 Retail Trade 9.26 Casino 6.58 Test Site Other Services Military, Federal Government 1.03 Non-military, Federal Government 6.58 State Government 5.76 Local Government Source: Tonopah Citizen Questionnaire,

12 Table 5. Educational Attainment Level of First and Second Wage Earner and Median Family Income by Educational Attainment Level, Tonopah, Nevada, Educational Level Proportion of First and Second Family Median Wage Earners Income Less than High School Education 2.72% $18,000 Some High School Education 5.43% $21,00 High School Graduate 37.68% $33,600 Some College Education 33.15% $44,000 College Graduate 14.67% $38,000 Graduate Students 6.34% $55,000 Total 100% Source: Tonopah Citizen Questionnaire,